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Board of Parole makes more with less
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Posted on Jul 23 2004
Despite its manpower shortage, the Board of Parole made more visits to parolees last year.
With only three parole officers and an administrative officer, BOP was able to make a total of 1,359 visits to parolees in 2003óa 55-percent increase from the 876 visits the board made the previous year.
BOP statistics showed that parole officers made 840 weekly, 144 bi-weekly, 60 monthly, and 315 other visits to parolees last year.
“We try to ensure that we drop in on the parolees at least once a month to see how they are doingówhether at home or at the workplace,î chief parole officer Vincent S. Attao said.
He noted that the board has an unfilled position for a parole officer.
We want to fill it, but with all the funding problem, we just try to survive with the resources we have,î he added.
The Board of Parole has an annual budget of around $300,000, according to Attao.
BOP data also showed that the board has referred a total of 26 parolees to various agencies in 2003.
Five were employed with the help of the Division of Employment Services and Workforce Investment Agency, while one is still pending.
Six have completed counseling at the Community Guidance Center, while six others are still undergoing the program. There are also
four parolees who have completed parenting training at the Division of Youth Services, and one still attending sessions.
Three other parolees are now going to classes at the Northern Marianas Collegeís Advance Development Institute.
“We think itís very important for parolees to be given opportunities to go through a rehabilitation process. These programs are essential in their supervision, and greatly help them to adapt to society again,” Attao said.
According to BOP, the Parole Alternative and Prevention Program is created to assist parolees with treatment needs and referrals. “Treatment is conducive to a successful reintegration of parolees into the community in order to become law abiding and productive members of society,” the board said.
The program is also responsible for testing parolees for abuse of illegal drugs and illegal use of legal drugs and/or alcohol use.
